West Seattle, Washington
03 Tuesday
One more community-group update from this past week: Highland Park Action Committee, which elected a new chair and co-chair, as well as getting a briefing from Seattle City Light.
But first: Outgoing co-chair Gunner Scott said he’s going to keep Mayor Jenny Durkan to her promise to visit Highland Park. He extended the invitation at her West Seattle “town hall” last weekend:
And she accepted it. Scott says he hopes to have her visit for coffee, donuts, and a look at Highland Park’s infamous traffic trouble (the one for which a roundabout is being sought).
Speaking of city business – City Light’s new meters will be installed in West Seattle soon:
6:10 PM: If you are heading to the east end of the Roxbury corridor, be forewarned that traffic is being diverted off Olson because of a crash investigation. Eastbound is going onto 4th; westbound, onto Myers Way. The crash was more than 2 hours ago and didn’t sound huge at the time, but one person was seriously hurt and the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad was called out.
7:54 PM: SDOT promises a Twitter update when the scene’s clear. We’re monitoring (via scanner too) but if you see that it’s cleared and we haven’t updated yet, please let us know – thank you!
9:11 PM: Still closed.
9:52 PM: Now open again, per SPD via SDOT.
ADDED MONDAY 10:51 AM: We followed up today with SFD and SPD. SFD said a 45-year-old woman was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. And SPD has just posted this:
Detectives from the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad (TCIS) were called out Sunday afternoon to investigate a serious injury vehicular assault hit and run incident in West Seattle.
On Sunday, March 4th, at about 3:30 pm, a Nissan Pathfinder, occupied by a 54-year-old male driver and a 45-year-old female passenger, was traveling westbound in the 9400 block of Olson Place Southwest. At about the same time, a utility van towing a large trailer was traveling eastbound on Olson Place Southwest. The Nissan crossed over the center line and collided with the utility van. The collision caused the Nissan to spin around and face eastbound. The driver of the van was not injured. The driver of the Nissan then drove approximately a quarter of a mile away from the scene of the collision, finally stopping on 1st Avenue South, just west of the Highway 509 on-ramp.
The female passenger in the Nissan was seriously injured and transported to Harborview Medical Center (HMC) via Seattle Fire medics. The male driver of the Nissan was also transported to HMC, and evaluated at the hospital by a Drug-Recognition Expert officer and it was determined that he was impaired. After the driver was treated at HMC, he was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of vehicular assault. The female passenger remains in the hospital. TCIS detectives will continue to handle the follow-up investigation.
This announcement is part obituary, part “how you can help.” It was sent on behalf of former Pathfinder K-8 teacher Chris Weaver‘s family, by a longtime friend of his who also was a Pathfinder teacher:
The Weaver Hudson Family Fund
Chris Weaver was a founding teacher of West Seattle’s Pathfinder School, bringing vision, energy, and love to establishing Pathfinder in its fledgling years. Chris deeply loved his community. He gave greatly of himself to his students, their families and the wider Pathfinder family. After teaching at Pathfinder for many years, Chris and his family moved to Asheville, North Carolina.
Three years ago, Chris was NC Charter School Teacher of the Year. In the years that followed what was a peak of his remarkable career, Chris struggled with depression and mental illness that culminated in his death on 9-20-2017. In spite of his own efforts and the profound efforts of others, this tragedy occurred. For his family, his students, his dear friends, and many, many others across the state, country, and world, Chris’s loss is felt deeply.
Chris’s warmth, intelligence, and boundless energy were renowned and he was beloved by all who knew him. His family meant the world to him and he to them. With his passing, Chris leaves behind his wife Rhett and their two sons, ages 15 and 20.
Their oldest son, who has made many films already with support from Chris over the years, is now in his junior year at the NC School of the Arts for film making. He has ongoing educational expenses including a need for equipment necessary for his burgeoning film career.
Their youngest son is a beautiful musician. Chris fostered in him a love of music, over the years helping with piano, guitar, and drum lessons. For their youngest son, these music lessons continue as will college expenses in the future.
To honor Chris’s love for both family and education in a future where he can no longer offer support, The Weaver Hudson Family Fund has been established to support his sons’ education and to facilitate their well-being over time. Their mother, Rhett, and a trusted friend will manage the funds and be responsible for monitoring expenses.
Chris’ family deeply appreciates any and all assistance to help ensure they have the resources they need. You can give through these avenues:
1. Go online to https://igg.me/at/FH5IwfnouGc to donate at our generosity.com website, or
2. Send a check made payable to “The Weaver Hudson Family Fund” and mail to: Weaver, PO Box 18344, Asheville, NC 28814
Please know what a difference this will make for the Weaver Hudson family. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
We’re covering the Camp Second Chance Community Advisory Committee meeting right now, as we do each month, and there’s one bulletin so far: The city is reviewing whether to renew the permit for the sanctioned encampment to remain at its site on the city-owned Myers Way Parcels for a second year, and as part of the renewal process, a community meeting has just been announced for 6:30 pm Tuesday, March 20th, at the Joint Training Facility (which is near the camp, 9401 Myers Way S.) If you can’t make it to the meeting, you can e-mail comments to homelessness@seattle.gov (you’re asked to write “Myers Way” in the subject line) and/or call 206-727-8496. The notice says comments will be accepted through April 5th. Though the camp actually has been at the site for a year and a half already, its status as a city-sanctioned encampment didn’t officially start until March of last year. We haven’t found the meeting announcement online yet but we photographed the flyer’s two pages – see them here and here. Our report on the rest of the meeting will be up later today/tonight.
11:59 AM: Thanks for the tip about a flipped-car crash on the westbound West Seattle Bridge. SDOT – which tweeted the image above (from this camera) – says it’s just west of the Highway 99 overpass and that it’s currently blocking all westbound lanes. Per scanner, one person is hurt.
12:33 PM: SDOT says all lanes are now open.
1:14 PM: Via comment and e-mail, we heard that a dog was loose on the roadway after the crash. Just got a call from someone who says the dog was rescued by a man in a Southwest Plumbing truck. So if anyone’s looking for it – that might be a place (the company is based in North Delridge) to start.
1:26 PM: This commenter says they have the dog. We’re crossposting to the Lost/Found Pets page in case someone looks there.
8:56 PM: As also noted in this comment, Max the dog is back home, and reunited with owner Christa!
Back in December 2016, a poster for the white-supremacist group Identity Evropa appeared, briefly, beneath the West Seattle Bridge; we reported on it after a reader tip. This morning, we’ve received messages about the group’s posters showing up in the Admiral area, near West Seattle High School and Hiawatha Community Center, and also along California SW south of Admiral; the person who sent the photo says they “lost count at 7” in the WSHS area. According to a U.S. News report, this organization often targets campuses with its campaigns, but more often colleges. A recent one at Eastern Washington University inspired a counter-protest; the group’s Twitter feed shows postering labeled as happening at other campuses including UW in Seattle and Tacoma. Their current focus appears to be on ending immigration, though their online self-description acknowledges their immigrant roots by calling themselves “Europeans.”
In case you’re experiencing it too, reader Brian, who contacted Seattle Public Utilities about brown water in the 4800 block of Fauntleroy Way SW, says he’s been told it’s the result of SPU line-flushing in the area this morning. SPU always advises calling 206-386-1800 if your water is discolored – there are several potential causes, and sometimes they won’t know until they start hearing from customers. Brian says SPU told him to “use water as little as possible for the next few hours to not further agitate the trust. It should take 3 to 8 hours to clear up.”
(Saturday photo from Upper Alki, by Don Brubeck)
Here’s what you need to know for this late-winter Sunday:
MORNING TRAFFIC ALERT: The Battery Street Tunnel is closed both ways, along with parts of Highway 99 north of it, now through 11:15 am for the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K, as previewed here.
WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: Now an hour earlier, 9 am at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point. (34th SW/SW Myrtle)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street in the heart of The Junction. See what’s fresh as spring gets closer! (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
MAXMOBILE AT THE MARKET: According to the Seattle Humane calendar, the big yellow MaxMobile will have adoptable pets at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market today. Usually parks at the north end of the market.(California/Oregon)
GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALES: Multiple locations around West Seattle feature Girl Scouts selling cookies as early as 9 am – go here and enter your zip code.
CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: 2 pm, community room at Arrowhead Gardens. All welcome at monthly meeting of community members who get briefed on, and discuss, encampment updates and issues. (9200 2nd SW)
SOUNDERS FC HOME OPENER: Not in West Seattle but if you’re headed downtown in the afternoon – for something besides the match – be aware this is happening at CenturyLink Field, 2 pm. (800 Occidental Ave. S.)
CORREO AEREO: Live Latin American music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
‘HIR’ MATINEE: First matinee for the new production at ArtsWest, 3 pm curtain. (4711 California SW)
OSCARS VIEWING PARTIES: 6th annual party at OutWest Barthe b (5401 California SW), red carpet at 3:30 pm, show at 5, with “ballots and prizes for Oscars trivia, best-dressed bar attendees, most winners guessed” plus champagne … The LumberYard Bar (9619 16th SW, White Center), starting at 4 pm … Prost West Seattle (3407 California SW) is having one starting at 5 pm, promising “Oscar Bingo, silly prizes, and popcorn during the show” … Anywhere else? Comment, or e-mail us, and we’ll add!
AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, acoustic-guitar masters Mark Goldenberg and Eric Skye are in concert at Kenyon Hall.
(Photo provided with concert announcement)
Read more about them – including ticket info – in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)
PREVIEW THE WEEK AHEAD … via our complete calendar!
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